Snorkeling and Frothing in Koh Phangna

Steve and I checked into a quiet little bungalow on the Gulf of Thailand and rented moto #18. The following day we drove out to the famous beach Hat Rin Nok where the full moon parties rage. We missed it by a day, due to Steve`s diving but will make it back here another time and party like rock stars under the stars with a full moon rising. It is recommended that you arrive a few days before the event to secure a room as they have anywhere between 5000 in low season to 30,000 party goer's in high season that attend this crazy event. Bucketing it up and partying until the sun rises! Nice bay with clean water, just have to dodge the many straws and cigarette butts left over from the previous nights events. The road taking us out to that beach is very steep and had signs posting a 20% grade. Holy steep Batman! We have read that there is an ambulance that's purpose is to cruise around the island helping injured motorcyclists. Judging by the MANY taped and bandaged crash victims we have seen wandering around makes this very believable and necessary! I am happy to report that I have a great driver! Ahhhh Grampa Steve. And to think I used to complain about his cruising speed, I now am so grateful! On our second night at our resort one of the two resident dogs bit Steve! I had put my hand out, let him smell, gave him a little pet and Steve did the same (we had pet him and his buddy before), but for whatever reason this time he chomped down on Steve's hand, and drew blood! I quickly went to the front desk and told them about the incident and asked if they were current with their dogs shots. We're up to date with all our shots but the only thing we are not immunized for is rabies! They reassured me that they have kept up with them all. Back in our bungalow we heard a dog yelp knowing he got a good wack! The next morning we noticed Muzzles (our new name for the little bugger) was wearing a muzzle and looking not too happy with his new accessory. Now on the upside we were moved to a nice beach front bungalow set close to the ocean. It was nice to lay in the hammock or on our bed while listening to the waves lapping up on shore. The things Steve will do for an upgrade (teehee)! We also checked out one of our daughters (Sydney's) fave beach on the island known as Coconut Beach with a very nice half moon bay with good snorkeling , clear water, soft white sand and a cool vibe. The next few days we rode around the island exploring and swimming in a few other recommended bays and beaches. Hat Salad was a cool snorkel beach with a long sand bar that connected to Ko Ma, an island with quite a few fish also. Coconut was still our favourite little beach on this island! Good days for snorkel master Sheri and her instructor Steve! Funny to watch the very young boys riding around the island on scooters. We stopped two boys and asked their age, looking like 9 or 10 but professing they were 12. These kids grow up on bikes, from babies cradled in their parents arms to the bamboo highchairs that are bungied or wedged behind the steering column, then advancing to squished between family members on the bike seat then to standing in front of the driver and later to being the driver. What a sight and most of this without helmets! We don't think that "safety first" is commonly used here. The helmet laws are now in effect but most locals carry them in their front basket put them on only for road checks which they seem to know where the cops are staked out! On our last day here we were skyping friends on the deck by the ocean and along came "Muzzles". He cowered under the deck where Steve was sitting looking very sheepish and sorry for his transgression. It must be so hard for a dog here to wear that contraption as they all have flees and like to chew and scratch the infested areas. We hope he has learned his lesson and won't bite again! So far no frothing of the mouth from Steve except when he's brushing his teeth!

Island to Island

Took a bus from Hua Hin to Chumphon and part way there the aircon quits! This was a modern double decker with those of us on the top section sweating like sauna pigs! I went below to see if it was better and if there were seats available. It was a slight bit cooler but no open seats. A couple sweating by the stairs showed me the intercom and asked me to talk to the driver (why me)? I guess they know a shit disturber when they see one, anyway no response so I go below and tap on the window separating the drivers from the tourists. No answer so I open it and show them how we are swimming in sweat. Soon the bus pulls over and we all get out to cool off in the 30 plus temp outside. I'm sure we could of sprayed water on the bus walls and had a make shift sweat lodge going on. I feel for the drivers as they are not aircon repairmen. They tried but no luck! Where is Glen Gulevich (aircon friend) when you need him! If my Dad, Jim or Step Dad, Stan were here they would of McGivered the unit. To our delight another double decker pulled over, both drivers tried to fix it but no luck so now we are stuffing our passengers onto another pretty full bus. Now what pisses me off are the Eurotating Euro's. When we were boarding or trying to board some people wouldn't move over or make space. So quiet subtle me starts poking people, some were even pretending to be asleep. I guess when you're raised in a chaotic overcrowded polluted city it's everyone for themselves. Managed to motivate some folks into unhappily moving but hey we're not here to make a lot of friends, we have a hard enough time keeping in touch with the ones we have! So move F-ing over you selfish pigs! Finally settled into our new seats with cool aircon and chilled with a couple games of backgammon. Arrived in time to catch a large fast catamaran ferry to Koh Tao. Speedy boat ride with ahhhhhhh, working aircon. The first night there we slept in a hot room with loud music close by and a crappy bed that felt like it would break in two. The next day after very little sleep I wandered around and found us a nice quiet room with air and a firm bed for resting up. Steve could now alertly start his schooling for the advanced open water diving course. He did 7 dives and the coarse all for under $300.00 smackeroos. One of them being a deep water dive, so now if he dives and gets the bends and has to be air ambulanced to a larger center with a decompression tank it will be free of charge with his new ticket! Hopefully he will never have to access this feature! He did a night dive which for me was scary just listening to what they were going to do. There is not a chance that I would want to even swim in the ocean at night! I am just Sheri the snorkel master, ha ha ha. During the course I enjoyed beach time and reading while waiting to hear of Steve's underwater adventures. Close to our hotel room on the rooftop of the hotel next to us we saw the biggest mud wasp nest ever, it was about 3 feet wide and over 4 feet in height! Don't want to upset that nest!Stayed 4 nights in Koh Tao then off to another island! Koh Phangan here we come!

Hua Hin's monks and monkeys

Checked into G Hotel, had a much needed good sleep then off to check out the sights. Rented moto #17. Rode around and ended up on a side street to the beach with a nasty barking dog chasing us! All I had was my camera ready to smack him on the head while hoping I would not have to use my feet which only had flip flops for protection! Zipped out of there quickly with Steve's super fast riding skills and tried another lane, ah safe #79. It spit us out beside the ultra high end Intercontinental Hotel, we learned from Dale and Rosi to just hunker down like an A-list guest and take full advantage of their beach towels and beach chairs. Steve swam in the swank pool and soaked in their various temperatured hot tubs. Man are there a lot of raisins (over tanned retired folks) here. The skyline or should we say beach front is lined with quite a few four and five star hotels. We think it looks similar to Miami or Cancun! Toured around and took in the sights of the city noticing new developments springing up everywhere. Next day we explored the countryside passing fields of pineapple, sugarcane, and of course rice! In the evening it was off to yet another night market for great seafood at cheapy cheap prices. On display outside one of the restaurants was some mega squid extra huge jumbo prawns chillin on ice. The following day, back to the beach to take in all the sights and sounds of recreation. There was no lack of action including kiteboarders, quads, dirtbikes, joggers, and horseback riding all on one beach. We then checked out the local mall. This one being an impressive three story complex full of high end shops and a mix of midrange fair for the rest of us. We bought zilcho but ended up in the movie theater enjoying "The Green Hornet" in the comfort of their big fat lazy boy couches eating popcorn. The mall even had a disco themed 10 pin bowling alley. On another day we rode to a point where a buddhist temple was built on the hillside overlooking the sea. To our delight the place was overrun with monkeys. We love monkeys! We witnessed their clever theivery as they snatched goods from the local vendors (little buggers)! Further north we discovered another fine stretch of beach with a totally laid back vibe. Hau Hin will find us hangin out again.